Carl L. Varner, Jason C. Shauf are arrested for Chambersburg homicide

Chambersburg men are identified as suspects in Hispanic man's shooting death.

Denise Bonura/The Record Herald

CHAMBERSBURG — Two Chambersburg men are in Franklin County Jail for their alleged involvement in the shooting death of a Hispanic man at a home in the 300 block of East King Street Monday night.

Jason C. Shauf, 38, of 117 Sollenberger Road and Carl L. Varner, 54, of 238 E. McKinley St. surrendered after standoffs at their respective homes later in the day.

Both men face charges of first- and second-degree murder, robbery while inflicting serious bodily injury, burglary, conspiracy to commit murder in the first degree and conspiracy to commit robbery and burglary. Shauf and Varner are in Franklin County Jail, and their bail has been denied.

Chambersburg police were called to 310 E. King St. just after 10 p.m. Monday for reports of shots fired and an assault. Officers were sent to the second floor where a Hispanic man, whose name is still being withheld pending notification of his family, was found dead in the bathroom.

Several people who were inside the home told police that two white men brandishing guns came in and demanded money and property. The occupants were all ordered to the second floor. One of the men fired a shot at the ceiling and the other shot the man in the bathroom, police said.

Trooper Ed Asbury, public communications officer with Pennsylvania State Police in Chambersburg, said borough police learned that Shauf and Varner went to the Sollenberger Road residence after the shooting. Asbury said state police were called to assist because it is in their jurisdiction. Numerous police units surrounded the home around 6 a.m.

"We started hailing them to come out, and a man and woman surrendered about 45 minutes later," Asbury said. "It was unknown where the second guy, Varner, was. They wouldn't tell us if he was in there. So we had to get the SERT team activated and issue a warrant. Once entry was made after 3 p.m., we learned Varner was not inside the Sollenberger Road home."

Asbury said the woman was later released from custody.

The Chambersburg Police Department Crime Impact Team located Varner at his home on East McKinley Street Tuesday afternoon.

"Due to the nature of the incident, the Chambersburg Police Department's Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) and Crisis Negotiation Team were activated," the news release said. "Residents near the 238 E. McKinley St. address were evacuated and/or warned to stay indoors. Varner was contacted by the negotiator and ultimately chose to surrender around 4 p.m. Tuesday, and was taken away in handcuffs by members of SERT unit."

Police are still investigating the homicide, and are conducting multiple searches on both arrest locations and related vehicles, the release said.

Previous records

According to online court documents, both suspects have been in and out of jail over the years.

Shauf pleaded guilty to a simple assault charge in May 2008. He was sentenced to 12 to 24 months in jail, and ordered to undergo drug/alcohol treatment and anger management. In 1998 he was sentenced to 3 to 18 months in jail for pleading guilty to conspiracy from a 1997 case. In 2001, Shauf pleaded guilty to simple assault, reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct from a February 2001 incident, and was sentenced to 24 months' probation.

Varner pleaded guilty to one count of theft in 1979, and was sentenced to 3 to 23 months in jail. He also pleaded guilty to escape in 1983, and was sentenced to 3 1/2 to 7 years in prison.

In January 2008, Varner was wanted on charges of making terroristic threats and harassment by communication. Chambersburg's Crisis Negotiation Team attempted to arrest him at the same home on East McKinley Street, but broke off communications with the team. After about eight hours, the team entered the home and found him hiding inside. After numerous continuances were filed, he was not prosecuted on the charges, according to online court records.

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